The Karen Read Trial
If you live in the U.S., you have probably heard about the Karen Read murder trial. Since I live in Greater Boston, I hear about it daily. Ms. Read is on trial as I write this in June 2025 for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Boston policeman John O’Keefe, in winter 2022 in Canton, Mass. The case is noteworthy for the incredibly unprofessional, if not incompetent, actions of the state investigators. (I chose not to quote the text messages by the lead investigator, who was fired for his conduct.)
As I write this, she’s on trial for the alleged crime for a second time, having been tried on the same charges in 2024, but the trial ended in a mistrial. Why? In part because of a horribly designed form. Yup, a form.
The jury deliberated in 2024, but said they couldn’t reach a consensus. So Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial. However, after the fact, several jurors went public stating that the jury DID reach unanimity on the most serious two of the three counts for which Read was charged:
1) Manslaughter while operating a Motor Vehicle while under the Influence,
2) Involuntary Manslaughter.
But they deadlocked, supposedly 9-3 for guilty, of the “lesser included charges”. (Note: no jurors have come forward to contest the statement of their peers that the jury had reached these unanimous decisions.)
So, they apparently did reach unanimity on some but not all charges, but they didn’t tell the court this. Why not?
Because they didn’t know how to make that point in the Verdict Form. Egads !!